The Omen of the Eagle and Telemachus' Hurry at Pylos — Odyssey §15.145-15.214 (Homer) | Greek text & English translation

ἵππους τε ζεύγνυντʼ ἀνά θʼ ἅρματα ποικίλʼ ἔβαινον,

They yoked the horses and mounted the inlaid chariots,

ἐκ δʼ ἔλασαν προθύροιο καὶ αἰθούσης ἐριδούπου.

and drove out of the vestibule and the echoing portico.

τοὺς δὲ μετʼ Ἀτρεΐδης ἔκιε ξανθὸς Μενέλαος,

And after them went fair-haired Menelaus, son of Atreus,

οἶνον ἔχων ἐν χειρὶ μελίφρονα δεξιτερῆφι,

holding in his right hand honey-hearted wine

ἐν δέπαϊ χρυσέῳ, ὄφρα λείψαντε κιοίτην¹.

in a golden cup, that they might pour a libation before they went.

στῆ δʼ ἵππων προπάροιθε, δεδισκόμενος δὲ προσηύδα·

He stood before the horses, and pledging them he spoke:

χαίρετον, ὦ κούρω, καὶ Νέστορι ποιμένι λαῶν

"Farewell, young men, and carry my greeting to Nestor, shepherd of the people;

εἰπεῖν· ἦ γὰρ ἐμοί γε πατὴρ ὣς ἤπιος ἦεν,

for surely he was gentle to me as a father

ἧος ἐνὶ Τροίῃ πολεμίζομεν υἷες Ἀχαιῶν.

while we sons of the Achaeans were warring in Troy."

τὸν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·

To him in turn wise Telemachus spoke in answer:

καὶ λίην κείνῳ γε, διοτρεφές, ὡς ἀγορεύεις,

"And surely to him, O nurtured of Zeus, even as you say,

πάντα τάδʼ ἐλθόντες καταλέξομεν· αἲ γὰρ ἐγὼν ὣς

we will tell all these things when we arrive; and would that I myself,

νοστήσας Ἰθάκηνδε, κιχὼν Ὀδυσῆʼ ἐνὶ οἴκῳ,

on returning to Ithaca, might find Odysseus in his house,

εἴποιμʼ² ὡς παρὰ σεῖο τυχὼν φιλότητος ἁπάσης

so that I might tell him how I have come after meeting with all friendship at your hands,

ἔρχομαι, αὐτὰρ ἄγω κειμήλια πολλὰ καὶ ἐσθλά.

and bringing many noble treasures with me."

ὣς ἄρα οἱ εἰπόντι ἐπέπτατο δεξιὸς ὄρνις,

Even as he spoke, a bird flew on their right,

αἰετὸς ἀργὴν χῆνα φέρων ὀνύχεσσι πέλωρον,

an eagle, bearing in its talons a great white goose,

ἥμερον ἐξ αὐλῆς· οἱ δʼ ἰΰζοντες ἕποντο

tame from the yard; and after it with shouting followed

ἀνέρες ἠδὲ γυναῖκες· ὁ δέ σφισιν ἐγγύθεν ἐλθὼν

men and women; but the eagle, coming near them,

δεξιὸς ἤϊξε πρόσθʼ ἵππων· οἱ δὲ ἰδόντες

dashed past on the right, in front of the horses; and they seeing it

γήθησαν, καὶ πᾶσιν ἐνὶ φρεσὶ θυμὸς ἰάνθη.

rejoiced, and the hearts of all were warmed within their breasts.

τοῖσι δὲ Νεστορίδης Πεισίστρατος ἤρχετο μύθων·

Then among them Pisistratus, son of Nestor, began to speak:

φράζεο δή, Μενέλαε διοτρεφές, ὄρχαμε λαῶν,

"Consider now, Menelaus, nurtured of Zeus, leader of the people,

ἢ νῶϊν τόδʼ ἔφηνε θεὸς τέρας ἦε σοὶ αὐτῷ³.

whether god has shown this sign to us two, or to you yourself."

ὣς φάτο, μερμήριξε δʼ ἀρηΐφιλος Μενέλαος,

So he spoke, and Menelaus, dear to Ares, pondered

ὅππως οἱ κατὰ μοῖραν ὑποκρίναιτο νοήσας⁴.

how he might understand it and answer him aright.

τὸν δʼ Ἑλένη τανύπεπλος ὑποφθαμένη φάτο μῦθον·

But Helen of the long robe anticipated him and spoke:

κλῦτέ μευ· αὐτὰρ ἐγὼ μαντεύσομαι, ὡς ἐνὶ θυμῷ

"Hear me, and I will prophesy as the immortals

ἀθάνατοι βάλλουσι καὶ ὡς τελέεσθαι ὀΐω.

put it in my heart, and as I think it will be accomplished.

ὡς ὅδε χῆνʼ ἥρπαξʼ ἀτιταλλομένην ἐνὶ οἴκῳ

Just as this eagle came from the mountain where is his birth and breed,

ἐλθὼν ἐξ ὄρεος, ὅθι οἱ γενεή τε τόκος τε,

and snatched up the goose that was reared in the house,

ὣς Ὀδυσεὺς κακὰ πολλὰ παθὼν καὶ πόλλʼ ἐπαληθεὶς

so shall Odysseus, after suffering many evils and wandering far,

οἴκαδε νοστήσει καὶ τίσεται· ἠὲ καὶ ἤδη

return home and take vengeance; or indeed even now

οἴκοι, ἀτὰρ μνηστῆρσι κακὸν πάντεσσι φυτεύει.

he is at home, and is sowing seeds of evil for all the suitors."

τὴν δʼ αὖ Τηλέμαχος πεπνυμένος ἀντίον ηὔδα·

To her in turn wise Telemachus spoke in answer:

οὕτω νῦν Ζεὺς θείη, ἐρίγδουπος πόσις Ἥρης·

"May Zeus so grant it now, the loud-thundering husband of Hera;

τῷ κέν τοι καὶ κεῖθι θεῷ ὣς εὐχετοῴμην.

then would I even there pray to you as to a god."

ἦ καὶ ἐφʼ ἵπποιϊν μάστιν βάλεν· οἱ δὲ μάλʼ ὦκα

He spoke, and touched the horses with the whip; and very swiftly

ἤϊξαν πεδίονδε διὰ πτόλιος μεμαῶτες.

they dashed through the city toward the plain, eager.

οἱ δὲ πανημέριοι σεῖον ζυγὸν ἀμφὶς ἔχοντες.

And all day long they shook the yoke, holding it on either side.

δύσετό τʼ ἠέλιος σκιόωντό τε πᾶσαι ἀγυιαί·

The sun set, and all the ways grew dark;

ἐς Φηρὰς δʼ ἵκοντο Διοκλῆος ποτὶ δῶμα,

and they came to Pherae, to the house of Diocles,

υἱέος Ὀρτιλόχοιο, τὸν Ἀλφειὸς τέκε παῖδα.

the son of Ortilochus, whom Alpheus begot.

ἔνθα δὲ νύκτʼ ἄεσαν ὁ δὲ τοῖς πὰρ ξείνια θῆκεν.

There they spent the night, and he gave them guest-gifts.

ἦμος δʼ ἠριγένεια φάνη ῥοδοδάκτυλος Ἠώς,

But when early-born, rosy-fingered Dawn appeared,

ἵππους τε ζεύγνυντʼ ἀνά θʼ ἅρματα ποικίλʼ ἔβαινον,

they yoked the horses and mounted the inlaid chariots,

ἐκ δʼ ἔλασαν προθύροιο καὶ αἰθούσης ἐριδούπου·

and drove out of the vestibule and the echoing portico.

μάστιξεν δʼ ἐλάαν, τὼ δʼ οὐκ ἄκοντε πετέσθην.

He whipped them to go, and the two flew not unwillingly.

αἶψα δʼ ἔπειθʼ ἵκοντο Πύλου αἰπὺ πτολίεθρον·

And soon they came to the steep citadel of Pylos;

καὶ τότε Τηλέμαχος προσεφώνεε Νέστορος υἱόν·

and then Telemachus spoke to the son of Nestor:

Νεστορίδη, πῶς κέν μοι ὑποσχόμενος τελέσειας

"Son of Nestor, how might you promise and fulfill

μῦθον ἐμόν;⁵ ξεῖνοι δὲ διαμπερὲς εὐχόμεθʼ εἶναι

my request? We claim to be guest-friends forever

ἐκ πατέρων φιλότητος, ἀτὰρ καὶ ὁμήλικές εἰμεν·

through the friendship of our fathers, and we are of like age;

ἥδε δʼ ὁδὸς καὶ μᾶλλον ὁμοφροσύνῃσιν ἐνήσει.

and this journey will bring us into even closer agreement.

μή με παρὲξ ἄγε νῆα, διοτρεφές, ἀλλὰ λίπʼ αὐτοῦ,

Do not lead me past my ship, O nurtured of Zeus, but leave me there,

μή μʼ ὁ γέρων ἀέκοντα κατάσχῃ ᾧ ἐνὶ οἴκῳ

lest the old man should hold me in his house against my will

ἱέμενος φιλέειν· ἐμὲ δὲ χρεὼ θᾶσσον ἱκέσθαι.

in his eagerness to show friendship; but I must make haste."

ὣς φάτο, Νεστορίδης δʼ ἄρʼ ἑῷ συμφράσσατο θυμῷ,

So he spoke, and the son of Nestor pondered in his heart,

ὅππως οἱ κατὰ μοῖραν ὑποσχόμενος τελέσειεν.

how he might promise and fulfill it aright.

ὧδε δέ οἱ φρονέοντι δοάσσατο κέρδιον εἶναι·

And as he pondered, this seemed to him to be the better way:

στρέψʼ ἵππους ἐπὶ νῆα θοὴν καὶ θῖνα θαλάσσης,

he turned the horses toward the swift ship and the shore of the sea,

νηῒ δʼ ἐνὶ πρύμνῃ ἐξαίνυτο κάλλιμα δῶρα,

and took out and placed in the stern of the ship the beautiful gifts,

ἐσθῆτα χρυσόν τε, τά οἱ Μενέλαος ἔδωκε·

the clothing and gold, which Menelaus had given him;

καί μιν ἐποτρύνων ἔπεα πτερόεντα προσηύδα·

and urging him on he spoke winged words to him:

σπουδῇ νῦν ἀνάβαινε κέλευέ τε πάντας ἑταίρους,

"Go on board now with speed, and command all your comrades,

πρὶν ἐμὲ οἴκαδʼ ἱκέσθαι ἀπαγγεῖλαί τε γέροντι.

before I reach home and bring the news to the old man.

εὖ γὰρ ἐγὼ τόδε οἶδα κατὰ φρένα καὶ κατὰ θυμόν·

For well I know this in my mind and in my heart:

οἷος κείνου θυμὸς ὑπέρβιος, οὔ σε μεθήσει,

so overbearing is his spirit, he will not let you go,

ἀλλʼ αὐτὸς καλέων δεῦρʼ εἴσεται, οὐδέ ἕ φημι

but will himself come here to call you, nor do I think

ἂψ ἰέναι κενεόν· μάλα γὰρ κεχολώσεται ἔμπης.

he will return empty-handed; for surely he will be very angry in any case."

Syntax notes5 items

§15.149λείψαντε κιοίτην
Both the participle and the verb are in the dual form, referring to Telemachus and Pisistratus. The conjunction ὄφρα introduces a purpose clause ('in order that') and takes the optative κιοίτην (present optative, 3rd person dual of κίω) following the past tense main verb (ἔκιε). The participle λείψαντε (aorist active participle, nominative dual masculine of λείβω) indicates a prior action or attendant circumstance: 'after having poured a libation.'
§15.156αἲ γὰρ ἐγὼν ὣς ... εἴποιμʼ
The particle of wishing αἲ γάρ (the Epic dialectal form of εἰ γάρ) followed by the independent optative εἴποιμι expresses a realizable wish ('would that I might speak...'). The adverb ὣς ('thus') refers back to Menelaus's hospitality, and is further specified and expanded by the following ὡς clauses (lines 158–159), which detail what he wishes to say.
§15.168ἢ νῶϊν ... ἦε σοὶ αὐτῷ
This introduces a disjunctive direct question (ἢ... ἦε... 'whether for us two... or for you yourself'). νῶϊν is the first-person dual dative, referring to Telemachus and Pisistratus ('for us two'). It is a characteristic epic paratactic structure expressing an indirect thought directly, which is later summarized in indirect form in line 170 by ὅππως... ὑποκρίναιτο.
§15.170ὅππως οἱ κατὰ μοῖραν ὑποκρίναιτο νοήσας
In the clause introduced by the indirect interrogative conjunction ὅππως, the optative ὑποκρίναιτο is used following the past tense main verb (μερμήριξε). The dative pronoun οἱ here is best understood not as an indirect reflexive referring to Menelaus himself, but as a third-person dative referring to Pisistratus ('to him'), who had just posed the question.
§15.195πῶς κέν μοι ὑποσχόμενος τελέσειας μῦθον ἐμόν;
The construction πῶς κεν with the optative (τελέσειας) is used to express a polite or humble request ('how might you perform... for me?'). The participle ὑποσχόμενος (aorist middle participle, nominative singular masculine of ὑπισχνέομαι) indicates a prior action or manner: 'promising' or 'after having promised,' modifying the main request.

Model: gemini-3.5-flashurn:cts:greekLit:tlg0012.tlg002.humanitext-grc2:15.145-15.214